Professional – Page 153 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Royals/Cardinals open three-game series Friday at St. Louis

Posted on June 11, 2015

ST. LOUIS (AP) – For the first time in more than 70 years, baseball’s two best teams reside in Missouri this late into a season.

The St. Louis Cardinals dropped two of three in Kansas City last month but managed to defeat Royals staff ace Yordano Ventura.

With their offense sputtering a bit, especially when Jaime Garcia starts, the Cardinals look to get to the struggling Ventura early in Friday night’s I-70 Series opener at Busch Stadium.

Kansas City (34-23) took over first place in the AL Central by sweeping a series from Minnesota to push their winning streak to four following a 2-9 stretch. Alex Gordon hit a three-run homer in Wednesday’s 7-2 victory while Salvador Perez singled twice to improve to 8 for 19 in his last five games.

“To get out of town sweeping the series is a good feeling,” manager Ned Yost said.

Pulling off another sweep will be a tall order since the Cardinals (39-21) are a major league-best 22-7 at home.

Ventura’s struggles are another cause for concern in the first matchup between Missouri teams holding baseball’s top two records this late into the season since Aug. 18, 1944, when the Cardinals and St. Louis Browns were atop the standings.

Ventura gave up four runs and six hits in a season-low three innings in Saturday’s 4-2 loss to Texas.

“He has to continue to develop, to understand that with power stuff, you still have to be able to locate and execute your pitches,” Yost said.

Ventura (3-5, 4.62 ERA) got off to another shaky start, allowing four runs in the first two innings. In six outings since the start of May, the right-hander has a 7.50 ERA in the first two innings. Opponents are batting .333 off him in the first on the season.

Against the Cardinals on May 24, Ventura walked Kolten Wong and Matt Carpenter to lead off the game and both came around to score. He ended up allowing two more runs on a Carpenter homer and was lifted after the seventh in a 6-1 loss.

St. Louis’ offense, though, hasn’t exactly been clicking, averaging 2.8 runs while batting .205 over a 2/3 stretch. Wong is 3 for 19 with no walks in the last five and Carpenter snapped an 0-for-13 slump by going 2 for 5 Wednesday as St. Louis defeated Colorado 4-2 to avoid a sweep.

“We’ve got the kind of lineup that’s going to be able to put some runs across, but overall, we know that our sustained success begins with our starting pitching,” manager Mike Matheny said.

The Cardinals lead the majors with a 2.71 ERA. No team has finished a season with a better ERA since Houston had a 2.66 in 1981.

Garcia (1-3, 2.67) has been sharp since coming off the disabled list but has received no runs of support in three of four starts. He gave up two runs and six hits in seven innings of Saturday’s 2-0 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The left-hander hasn’t issued a walk in his last 22 innings.

Kansas City has regularly frustrated, Garcia, however, knocking him around for six runs and eight hits in five innings last June. He is 0-1 with an 8.31 ERA in four starts in the series.

The Royals had been going through a slump of their own before Wednesday, averaging 2.1 runs and hitting .173 with runners in scoring position in their previous nine games.

“You’re going to have slumps throughout the season. It’s how you respond to it,” Gordon said.

The Royals are 5-2 against the Cardinals since the start of last season and have won five of seven in St. Louis.

Gordon has hit safely in the last seven meetings, batting .381 with three homers and a .519 on-base percentage. He is 4 for 9 with a home run and double against Garcia.

— Associated Press —

Missouri Mavericks announce affiliation with NHL’s New York Islanders

Posted on June 11, 2015June 12, 2015

INDEPENDENCE, MO – The Missouri Mavericks announced Thursday afternoon that they have reached an affiliation agreement with the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League (NHL) for the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons.

Missouri joins the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the American Hockey League (AHL) as the Islanders primary minor league affiliates.

“One of the major priorities that we identified while going through the due diligence process on the purchase of the Mavs was to strengthen our affiliation in the world of professional hockey,” said Lamar Hunt Jr, President & Owner of the Missouri Mavericks. “We are excited for the players and the fans as we bring a whole new level of professional hockey to Independence Events Center, paired up with an organization that has been built through its development to become a perennial playoff contender.”

This agreement marks the first time in franchise history that the Mavericks will be a part of a formal affiliation with an NHL team. The Mavs held previous one-year agreements with the AHL Chicago Wolves during the 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons.

“We are excited to partner with the Missouri Mavericks as our new ECHL affiliate,” Islanders General Manager Garth Snow said. “The Mavericks are a highly-regarded organization with a high-end coaching staff that’s capable of developing players from the ECHL, to the AHL, and eventually to the New York Islanders.”

Missouri’s new affiliation agreement includes integration into the Islanders scouting system, strength and conditioning programs, and training camps.

“The Mavericks are thrilled to be affiliating with a first-class organization in the New York Islanders,” said Brent Thiessen, General Manager of the Missouri Mavericks. “We are excited to develop their prospects and work closely with the team moving forward.”

“Today is an important day for the Mavericks, solidifying a strong NHL affiliation with a storied and proven franchise ensures we will have some of the best hockey talent available showcased at the IEC on a nightly basis,” said Thiessen. “Our fans will see NHL prospects that graduate to Bridgeport of the American Hockey League and hopefully to the New York Islanders at the NHL level.”

Several Islanders prospects saw time in the ECHL last season, including former second-round pick Sebastien Collberg, third-rounder Loic Leduc and seventh-rounder Lukas Sutter. Three Islanders players that finished the 2014-15 season with the team who spent a portion of their careers in the ECHL include Eric Boulton, Colin McDonald and Kael Mouillierat.

The Mavericks begin their 2015-16 campaign on the road in Anchorage, Alaska for their first-ever matchup against the Alaska Aces. The Mavericks will play longtime rival, the Wichita Thunder, in their home-opener on Saturday, Oct. 24 at Independence Events Center.

— Mavericks Press Release —

Kansas City completes sweep of Minnesota with 7-2 win

Posted on June 10, 2015

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Kansas City Royals reclaimed first place with a resounding three-game sweep on the road of division rival Minnesota.

The Twins were beaten so soundly, well, they lost their shirt.

One of them, at least.

Alex Gordon hit a three-run homer, Edinson Volquez struck out six batters over seven innings and the Kansas City Royals beat the Twins 7-2 on Wednesday, a night spiced up in the eighth inning by an ejection of Torii Hunter that prompted an equipment-throwing tantrum by the Minnesota star.

“You know what he’s trying to do. He’s trying to fire everybody up and get `em going,” Kansas City manager Ned Yost said. “They’ve been in a little slow bat period themselves, and he’s trying to get everybody fired up and get `em going. It’s a bit entertaining.”

Hunter was heaved by home plate umpire Mark Ripperger for arguing a called third strike. Hunter had to be restrained briefly, before yanking off his elbow pad, shin guard and batting gloves and throwing them around the batter’s box area.

Then Hunter ripped off his jersey and hurled that over the first-base line, before retreating to the dugout.

“We have bad days, all of us, as hitters, pitchers. Even umpires have bad days, and he had one,” Hunter said.

Hunter has long been a fiery player, but his blow-up likely wouldn’t have happened had the Twins not been swept at home for the first time this season. Manager Paul Molitor was given his first career ejection during the conflict, too.

Was that satisfying to see for the Royals, who arrived at Target Field on Monday trailing the Twins by one game in the American League Central?

“No, I find satisfaction in winning baseball games. To get out of town sweeping the series, it’s a good feeling,” Yost said.

The Twins scored 11 runs while stumbling to a 1-5 record on this home-stand. They hadn’t been swept since the opening series of the season at Detroit.

Volquez (5-4) pitched the Royals to victory by reaching the seven-inning mark for only the second time in his last nine starts. He scattered seven singles, walking two.

“With our pitching staff, the way they’ve done it the past three games makes our offense feel comfortable even though we’re not scoring a lot of runs,” Gordon said.

The Royals went 2-9 over an 11-game stretch until Sunday. Now they’ve won four in a row.

“You’re going to have slumps throughout the season. It’s how you respond to it,” Gordon said. “We kept our heads up. It was frustrating at times, but we knew we were going to get out of it and play some better baseball, and that’s what we’re doing now.”

Kyle Gibson (4-4) found a groove after Gordon’s big hit, finishing six innings with six strikeouts while allowing five hits and two walks, but he had little help. Plouffe, whose triple in the seventh was Minnesota’s only hit against Chris Young the night before, homered off Luke Hochevar in the eighth.

Gibson had a 2.03 ERA in the five previous starts of his career against the Royals, and he was in command again.

Except for that first inning.

Eric Hosmer’s single drove in the first run. With two outs and a full count, Gibson left enough of a changeup over the plate for Gordon to drive it into the right-field seats for a 4-0 lead. The Royals stretched their lead with two of their three unearned runs in the seventh against J.R. Graham, including an RBI single by Mike Moustakas.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Kansas City: The Royals must decide on Thursday whether to keep Drew Butera or return Aaron Kratz as catcher Salvador Perez’s backup, when Kratz’s rehabilitation assignment for a foot injury expires.

Minnesota: Shortstop Jorge Polanco went 1 for 3 with a walk in his season debut and was charged with one of three errors by the Twins. He was returned to Double-A Chattanooga after the game. Outfielder Eddie Rosario is expected from paternity leave on Friday.

UP NEXT

Kansas City: The Royals start a three-game intrastate, interleague series against St. Louis after a day off. Yordano Ventura (3-5, 4.62 ERA) will pitch for the Royals on Friday, opposite Jaime Garcia (1-3, 2.67 ERA) of the Cardinals.

Minnesota: After an off day, the Twins travel to Texas for a three-game series. Tommy Milone (2-1, 4.55 ERA) will start on Friday for the Twins against fellow Wandy Rodriguez (3-2, 3.25 ERA) of the Rangers.

— Associated Press —

Martinez, Cardinals beat Rockies 4-2 to avoid series sweep

Posted on June 10, 2015

DENVER (AP) — Next to his fastball in the mid-90s, Carlos Martinez’s best attribute on the mound is his ability to listen.

Whatever catcher Yadier Molina tells him to throw, he obeys. Simple as that. No head shaking or second guessing.

Martinez pitched efficiently into the seventh inning for a fifth straight start and Randal Grichuk hit a solo homer, helping the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Colorado Rockies 4-2 on Wednesday to avoid a series sweep.

“I was listening to Yadier,” Martinez said through a translator. “I believed in what Yadier was calling.”

Martinez (7-2) had a shutout until Ben Paulsen’s two-run homer in the seventh. That’s about the only mistake he made. But even that 88 mph changeup wasn’t really a mistake. He thought he made a good pitch — just not at Coors Field.

“I didn’t expect the ball to fly that far,” Martinez said.

The right-handed Martinez gave up eight hits in 6 1/3 innings and tied a career-high with two singles at the plate, including one in which he beat out a throw and signaled safe to let everyone know. Martinez also scored a run.

“Carlos was terrific,” Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. “You can tell he’s pitching with a lot of confidence.”

His performance helped the Cardinals salvage the final game of what’s been a rough series. St. Louis was outscored 15-6 in the opening two games and had slugger Matt Holliday go on the disabled list with a strained right quadriceps.

Chad Bettis (2-1) felt “out of whack” all day, never really settling into a comfortable rhythm. He allowed three runs in five innings as the Rockies finished a 5-5 homestand.

“Just felt a little rushed through my delivery throughout the whole game,” Bettis explained. “Other than that, just got to keep the ball down.”

Paulsen entered as a defensive replacement in the seventh for left fielder Brandon Barnes, who appeared to hurt a leg on a slide into second. Paulsen knew a changeup was coming — he had seen a steady diet of them — and hit it into the left-center seats to make it a 3-2 game.

Grichuk gave the Cardinals a little more cushion with a solo shot in the eighth.

Kevin Siegrist pitched 1 2/3 innings and struck out four, including the side in the eighth. Trevor Rosenthal threw a perfect ninth for his NL-leading 20th save in 21 chances.

Colorado was trying for its first sweep of the Cardinals since July 2010 but couldn’t solve Martinez as he pitched his way out of jams. Colorado hit into inning-ending double plays in the fifth and sixth innings.

Martinez received some nifty glove work from second baseman Kolten Wong in the first with two outs and DJ LeMahieu on third. Wong made a diving snare in the outfield grass, got up and threw out Carlos Gonzalez by a step.

Martinez tapped gloves with his second baseman on the way into the dugout.

“That’s a big play,” Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. “A lot of game left, but it’s a big play.”

TAKEN OUT

Daniel Descalso ran over Wong, his former teammate in St. Louis, while trying to break up a double play in the seventh.

“I thought I taught him better than that — to get out of the way,” Descalso said, smiling. “Guess not.”

SLUMP OVER

Matt Carpenter was 0 for 14 before an RBI single in the third. He finished with two hits.

“You have to have a short memory,” Carpenter said.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: Matheny said the team will monitor the progress of Holliday’s strained right quadriceps over the next few weeks. “He’s impressive how he’s able to bounce back, how his body handles certain injuries,” Matheny said. … RHP Lance Lynn went back to St. Louis for more tests after experience forearm tightness after his last start. Matheny said the team is still waiting to hear back. Lynn is slated to pitch Saturday.

Rockies: OF Corey Dickerson (plantar fasciitis) is to accompany the team to Miami and could come off the disabled list sometime during the series. Dickerson said his left foot “feels a lot better.” … Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki was given the day off to rest.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: The team has a day off after finishing up their road swing 4-3. LHP Jaime Garcia (1-3, 2.67) will take the mound Friday as the Cardinals host the Kansas City Royals.

Rockies: LHP Chris Rusin (2-0, 1.45) throws Thursday to start a four-game series in Miami.

— Associated Press —

Young takes no-hitter into the 7th as Royals blank Twins 2-0

Posted on June 9, 2015

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Chris Young took a no-hitter into the seventh inning and Salvador Perez homered to help the Kansas City Royals to a 2-0 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday night.

Young (5-2) left after giving up a triple to Trevor Plouffe with one out in the seventh for his only hit of the game. The 6-foot-10 right-hander struck out two and walked three to bounce back from a pair of ugly starts and put the Royals in a position to sweep the Twins on Wednesday.

Trevor May (4-4) gave up one run on seven hits with five strikeouts and three walks in six innings for the Twins, who managed just the one hit and have scored five runs in their last four games.

On a night when San Francisco’s Chris Heston no-hit the Mets, Young looked prime to equal him as he carved up the slumping Twins lineup through six innings.

He faced the minimum number of batters through five innings, walked two in the sixth and finally yielded when Plouffe just missed an opposite field homer that bounced high off the big wall in right field.

Royals manager Ned Yost immediately pulled him, turning things over to the American League’s best bullpen to finish of Kansas City’s third straight victory. Franklin Morales and Kelvin Herrera kept Plouffe stranded at third and Greg Holland picked up his 11th save in 12 chances.

It should come as no surprise that Young didn’t let a couple of shaky starts get him down. He started this season with the Royals with wins in his first three starts, but had given up 10 earned runs over his previous two against the Yankees and Indians.

That was nothing compared to what he overcame just to stay in the big leagues. Young broke in with the Rangers in 2004 and also pitched for the Padres and Mariners. But his career was in jeopardy in 2013 after he had surgery to address thoracic outlet syndrome, a nerve disorder that gave him chronic pain in his shoulder and neck.

He recovered and went 12-9 with a 3.65 ERA for the Mariners last year to earn AL comeback player of the year honors before signing with the AL champions in March.

He got all the help he would need against the Twins in the first inning when Alcides Escobar led off the game with a double and scored on a single from Mike Moustakas. Perez added his ninth homer of the season in the ninth.

The Royals (33-23) can complete the three-game sweep of the Twins (33-25), who have fallen behind AL Central-leading Kansas City, on Wednesday.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: LHP Danny Duffy, who has been on the disabled list since May 17 with left biceps tendinitis, was scheduled to return to the mound on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha.

UP NEXT

The Royals send RHP Edinson Volquez (4-4, 3.26) to the mound in the series finale to face RHP Kyle Gibson (4-3, 3.00). Volquez is 0-2 with a 4.13 ERA on the road this season. Gibson has given up a combined four earned runs on 13 hits in his two starts against Kansas City this season. He is 1-1 in those starts.

— Associated Press —

Kansas City takes game one against Twins to move into first place

Posted on June 8, 2015June 8, 2015

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Jason Vargas threw six shutout innings and Kendrys Morales hit a long home run against his former team to push the Kansas City Royals to a 3-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Monday night.

Vargas (5-2) gave up five hits and struck out two, Morales hit a two-run shot in the second inning and Eric Hosmer drove in another run in the eighth to move the AL champion Royals (32-23) ahead of the Twins (33-24) by percentage points for first place in the AL Central. Greg Holland got his 10th save in 11 chances.

Phil Hughes (4-6) had one of his strongest outings of the season for the Twins, but didn’t get enough from his offense. Hughes gave up three runs on seven hits and struck out three.

Eddie Rosario had two hits, including a solo homer for Minnesota.

— Associated Press —

St. Louis gets rocked by Colorado in series opener 11-3

Posted on June 8, 2015June 8, 2015

DENVER (AP) — Troy Tulowitzki hit a three-run homer in the first and David Hale threw seven effective innings, lifting the Colorado Rockies to an 11-3 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday night.

Hale (2-0) was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque to make a spot start and retired the opening nine batters before surrendering a solo homer to Kolten Wong. The right-hander allowed three runs and struck out seven.

Nolan Arenado added a two-run homer as the Rockies roughed up John Lackey (4-4), who surrendered 10 runs — eight earned — and 12 hits in four innings. His ERA rose from 2.93 to 3.74.

St. Louis had a scary moment in the second when left fielder Matt Holliday fell awkwardly trying to chase down a bloop double by Carlos Gonzalez. Holliday grabbed his right leg and lay on the ground before gingerly walking off. The team said he suffered a right quadriceps strain.

— Associated Press —

Royals select Indiana high school pitcher in first round of draft

Posted on June 8, 2015June 8, 2015

By Jordan Wilson / MLB.com

KANSAS CITY — The Royals selected right-hander Ashe Russell from Cathedral (Ind.) High School in Indianapolis with the 21st pick overall pick on Monday night in the 2015 MLB Draft.

The Royals picked the farthest back in the first round since holding the 24th overall choice in 1986, coming off their 1985 World Series title. They have two other picks on Day 1 with the 33rd and 64th overall selections.

The Draft continues on Tuesday with Rounds 3-10. The MLB.com preview show begins at 11:30 a.m. CT, with exclusive coverage of Rounds 3-10 beginning at noon.

At 6-foot-4 and 195 pounds, Russell has the big frame of a Major League starter and touts a 92-95 mph fastball. He also frequents a low-80s slider as a secondary pitch with a combo that led to much success in high school.

“I try to work at a fast tempo to keep the hitters off-balance. I like to control the game at my own pace,” Russell said. “I think the thing the scouts like most is my slider. It’s a good swing-and-miss pitch, I would say.”

Lingering concerns with Russell is that he has yet to develop a strong changeup and he will need further development with his mechanics and control, but scouts indicate he counters with his athleticism and quick-twitch arm speed.

Russell did not attend any pre-draft workouts with Major League clubs.

“I did not get to any workouts due to my high school season back in Indy,” said Russell, whose high school team lost in its sectional championship game.

Russell was named the Gatorade Indiana Baseball Player of the Year for leading the Fighting Irish into the Class AAAA sectional tournament with a 4-1 record and a 1.23 ERA at the time in 34 innings through 21 games.

Russell is the first high school player the Royals have taken with their first pick since 2011 (outfielder Bubba Starling) and he is their fourth top-pick right-hander since 2006 — Luke Hochevar (No. 1 in 2006), Aaron Crow (No. 12 in 2009) and Kyle Zimmer (No. 8 in 2012). Russell is currently committed to the Texas A&M.

“It’s going to come down to family decisions, money, and I’m just ready to continue playing baseball in my career,” Russell said. “I’m happy it’s gonna be with the Royals.”

Perez HR helps KC salvage final game against Texas

Posted on June 8, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Royals closer Greg Holland was too busy warming up to start hollering when a home run by Salvador Perez plopped down into the Kansas City bullpen.

Perez hit a solo homer with two outs in the eighth inning, lifting the Royals over the Texas Rangers 4-3 Sunday.

Perez connected off Keone Kela (4-2) for his eighth home run, barely clearing the fence.

“Everybody else down there is screaming, cheering and high-fiving, but I’ve got to go out there and worry about throwing strikes,” Holland said. “At that point, you just try not to blow the game.”

“I try not to get caught up in those moments. I saw him hit the ball and knew it was probably at least a double. I was going out in a tie game or with the lead, regardless. My main objective was thinking about getting (Joey) Gallo the leadoff hitter out.”

Holland pitched a perfect ninth for his ninth save in 10 opportunities.

Perez wasn’t sure his shot was going to make it over the wall.

“I’m thinking a line drive,” Perez said. “I didn’t think it was going to be out.”

Kela’s fastball ran back inside to Perez.

“It leaned back over into Perez’s nitro zone,” Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. ” I’m sure he was wanting to go off the plate. I don’t think he was trying to go in.”

Said Kela: “I know you’ve got to understand the bitter to enjoy the sweet, but I was being aggressive and I was in the strike zone and throwing strikes. I was confident in all the pitches I throw. I just didn’t execute.”

Wade Davis (3-1) picked up the victory, working around Prince Fielder’s double in the eighth.

Jeremy Guthrie limited the Rangers to one hit the first six innings, but was removed with one out in the seventh after giving up back-to-back singles to Mitch Moreland and Gallo.

Guthrie left with a 3-0 lead, and reliever Kelvin Herrera could not hold it. Elvis Andrus singled to load the bases, Leonys Martin hit a two-run single and Robinson Chirinos’ RBI groundout tied it.

Rangers starter Colby Lewis departed after seven innings and 101 pitches, giving up three runs and eight hits.

Kendrys Morales hit an RBI double in the fifth that made it 3-0.

YOST TIES HOWSER

Ned Yost tied Dick Howser with his 404th victory as the Royals manager for second place on the franchise’s all-time list. “If Dick hadn’t got sick, I don’t think anybody would have tied him,” Yost said. Howser died of brain cancer in 1987. Yost is closing in on Whitey Herzog’s club record 410 victories.

NO HOMERS

Davis has pitched 106 innings without allowing a home run, the longest active streak in the majors.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rangers: RHP Ross Ohlendorf (strained right groin) was putn the disabled list. He joins 13 other Rangers on the DL. … RHP Neftali Feliz (abscess procedure) threw one inning on a rehab assignment Saturday for Triple-A Round Rock, allowing one unearned run on one hit against Oklahoma City. He walked one and struck out one, throwing 24 pitches. … LHP Matt Harrison (spinal fusion) will make his second rehab start Monday for Round Rock.

Royals: LHP Danny Duffy (biceps tendinitis) will make his first rehab start Tuesday for Triple-A Omaha.

UP NEXT

Rangers: After an off-day Monday, RHP Nick Martinez will start the series opener Tuesday at Oakland.

Royals: RF Alex Rios is 13 for 27 with four doubles and a home run against RHP Phil Hughes, the Twins’ starter Monday at Minnesota.

— Associated Press —

Cards rally with three runs in 8th to beat Dodgers

Posted on June 8, 2015

LOS ANGELES (AP) — If the St. Louis Cardinals end up meeting the Los Angeles Dodgers in the postseason for the third straight year, the seven games they played in June will only add to their confidence against them.

And Jhonny Peralta will be a big reason why.

Peralta homered and singled home the go-ahead run during a three-run eighth inning Sunday night, leading the Cardinals to a 4-2 victory. The shortstop was 11 for 21 with two home runs and eight RBI during the seven-game season series, which they won 5-2 against the team they knocked out of the playoffs in each of the previous two years.

“Jhonny’s a real difference maker. He’s been putting together some good at-bats and getting some big RBI for us,” manager Mike Matheny said. “We’ve been firing him into that cleanup spot, but he’s fit wherever we’ve put him. He’s just a guy who’s going to sneak up on you like he did tonight. The next thing you know, he’s got three hits.”

Matt Carpenter drew a leadoff walk from reliever Adam Liberatore, and scored the tying run on a triple down the right-field line by Matt Holliday that skipped past Yasiel Puig — who was playing his second game after missing 39 because of a strained left hamstring.

Holliday’s hit came off Juan Nicasio (1-2). Peralta, who leads St. Louis with 34 RBI, followed with his clutch hit and scored on Mark Reynolds’ one-out double to left-center.

“Last year, Jhonny blew us away with the consistency of his defense, and this year it’s his ability to get the big hit,” Matheny said. “Coming from the shortstop position, that’s pretty impressive. Jhonny is real content with who he is on our club. He’s just doing his part, and he’s been doing it very well.”

Kevin Siegrist (3-0) pitched one inning for the victory, striking out the side in the seventh on 17 pitches. Trevor Rosenthal, the sixth Cardinals pitcher, threw a perfect ninth for his 19th save in 20 attempts.

The NL West-leading Dodgers were coming off a 2-0 victory Saturday night in which Clayton Kershaw held St. Louis to one hit over eight innings. Carpenter was back in the Cardinals’ lineup after taking a fastball to the right triceps from Kershaw in the first inning of that game, forcing him out three innings later.

Dodgers right-hander Zack Greinke held the team with baseball’s best record to six hits through 6 2/3 innings and struck out eight, giving up his only run in the sixth on Peralta’s ninth homer. But the 2009 AL Cy Young Award winner remained winless in six starts — a frustrating stretch in which he’s allowed just one run in five of them.

Manager Don Mattingly removed Greinke after 99 pitches with a runner on first and brought in Liberatore, who fanned Kolten Wong to end the inning.

“It makes a lot of sense, what they did,” Greinke said. “Liberatore’s been amazing getting lefties out all year.”

Cardinals right-hander Lance Lynn threw 98 pitches over five innings, allowing two runs and six hits while striking out five. He has yet to give up a home run in 31 career innings against the Dodgers, going 3-1 with a 4.35 ERA and 37 strikeouts in six starts.

Lynn, who was knocked out of a start at Dodger Stadium against Greinke last June because of a blister on his middle finger, got a visit from Matheny and a trainer after the Dodgers opened the fifth with Greinke’s second single of the game and a walk to Joc Pederson on the right-hander’s 92nd pitch.

Lynn retired the next three batters on flyballs, using six more pitches before Mitch Harris took over to start the seventh.

“Lance just had some forearm tightness,” Matheny said. “I noticed something just didn’t look right. The trainers inspected where it was, and they weren’t concerned. Everything was pointing that it’s OK and not that big of a deal, but we wanted to be smart about it. And at almost a hundred pitches, he’s about out of the game anyhow.”

Jimmy Rollins, who came to the plate in the Dodgers’ sixth with just two RBI in his previous 76 at-bats, was deprived of one by right fielder Jason Heyward — who charged his base hit and threw out Andre Ethier at the plate with the help of a lunging tag by Tony Cruz. Moments earlier, Ethier had stolen his first base of the season.

Puig singled with one out in the first and came all the way around on Justin Turner’s two-out double. Turner, starting in the cleanup spot for the third time in four games, made it 2-0 in the third with a two-out single that scored Greinke from second base after the pitcher led off the inning with his first hit.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: RHP John Lackey (4-3) goes into the opener of a three-game series at cozy Coors Field having allowed just two home runs in his last 68 1/3 innings, spanning 284 batters.

Dodgers: RHP Mike Bolsinger (3-1) opposes former Dodger Rubby De La Rosa in the opener of a three-game set against the visiting Diamondbacks, who selected Bolsinger in the 15th round of the 2010 draft.

— Associated Press —